Is hydronephrosis in fetus serious?

Is hydronephrosis in fetus serious?

Most cases do not cause problems for the fetus. For most babies born with prenatal hydronephrosis, their condition resolves over time and they require no treatment to pass urine normally. But more serious cases of prenatal hydronephrosis can result in urinary tract infections, scarring or permanent kidney damage.

Does enlarged kidney mean Down syndrome?

Less often, a dilated renal pelvis is an early sign of a more serious problem with the bladder, kidney, or ureter. Down syndrome: Some studies suggest a small chance for Down syndrome with this ultrasound finding.

Why are my unborn baby’s kidneys enlarged?

A kidney may swell if your baby’s ureter is blocked and urine can’t flow from the kidney to the bladder. Or your baby’s kidney may swell if urine that’s already in the bladder flows back up into the kidney.

What happens when a baby is born with enlarged kidneys?

After an infant is born, hydronephrosis may lead to complications such as urinary tract infections, kidney stones, and chronic kidney disease.

Why are my baby’s kidneys enlarged?

The kidneys may be missing or in a wrong position. A blockage of the outflow of urine or reverse flow of urine already in the bladder (called reflux) can cause the renal pelvis to become enlarged. This is usually called hydronephrosis.

What is an enlarged kidney in an unborn baby?

Hydronephrosis in newborns is enlargement, or dilation, of the renal pelvis—the basin in the central part of the kidney where urine collects. Hydronephrosis can occur in one or both kidneys. This condition is often diagnosed before birth during a prenatal ultrasound.

What happens when a baby has an enlarged kidney?

How is fetal hydronephrosis treated?

Treatment involves surgery, either major or minor, to correct whatever is causing the blockage of urine or to repair the valve-like structures of the ureter to prevent backflow of urine from the bladder.